Figure 4.

Progressive Accumulation of CL in Pten CKO Mice

Ovaries of the Pten CKO mice are larger and heavier than wild-type mice (A and B). Hematoxylin and eosin staining (C and D) followed by quantification showed that the Pten CKO ovaries contained more antral follicles and CL than controls (E and F). In situ hybridization showed that whereas the fully developed, healthy CL in wild-type ovaries expressed Lhcgr (G and H), only some of the CL in Pten CKO ovaries expressed Lhcgr (I and J). Immunofluorescence showed that PTEN protein is highly expressed in wild-type CL (K and L), was markedly reduced in Pten mutant LCs, but remained in the endothelial cells (M). The protein levels of PTEN were higher in LCs and RT than in GCs (N). ICs, Interstitial cells; WT, wild type.